Obama gains after denouncing pastor - poll

Barack Obama said his big win in North Carolina over Hillary Clinton put him closer to winning

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appears to be rebounding from sliding poll numbers in the wake of the controversy over his former pastor, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll released yesterday.

Among Democratic primary voters, the Illinois senator now leads opponent Hillary Clinton by 12 points- 50% to 38%- the poll found. Obama led the New York senator by 8 points in a CBS/New York Times poll released just a few days ago.

The latest poll was taken after Obama's comments last week repudiating Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who repeated statements that the Sept. 11 attacks were retribution for US foreign policy and that the US government had a hand in spreading AIDS to harm blacks.

According to the poll, 60% of voters approve of how Obama handled the furore over the Chicago minister, compared with 23% who disapprove. Clinton and Obama face voting contests tomorrow in North Carolina and Indiana, the next steps in their battle for the Democratic presidential nomination to take on Republican John McCain in the November election.

Despite concern among Democrats about the potential damage to the party by the protracted Clinton-Obama fight, both are in a strong position against McCain, CBS said. - Reuters